Harness for supporting binoculars and the like



P 1970 I w. G. KUBAN- 3,526,347

HARNESS FOR SUPPORTING BINOCULARS AND THE LIKE Filed July 17, 1968 INVENTOR. H/ILL/AM 6. (08AM United States Patent 3,526,347 HARNESS FOR SUPPORTING BINOCULARS AND THE LIKE 1 William G. Kubau, 5125 Ranier Pass,

Minneapolis, Minn. 55421 Filed July 17, 1968, Ser. No. 745,570

Int. Cl. A45f /00 US. Cl. 224-5 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A harness device for supporting binoculars and the like, including a pair of elongate flexible straps connected to the conventional coupling elements on binoculars, and encircling the thoracic area of the user so that the binoculars are suspended against the chest of the user. One portion of the harness straps extending transversely across the body thereof along the drainage edge of the layers. The reinforcing members extend in a direction parallel to the mutually parallel layers. These reinforcing members have a greater mechanical strength than the layers to protect the layers from deformation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Binoculars, cameras and other small hand-type instruments which are ordinarily raised to eye level during use are quite often carried by a user by suspending the instrument from the neck so that the instrument hangs loosely adjacent the thoracic area of the user. With this arrangement, the user comfortably can carry the instrument while having it available for ready use. However, it has been found that instruments, such as binoculars, when suspended in this manner not only sometimes swing awkwardly when a user is walking, but the instrument dangles awkwardly, especially when a user is riding horseback, skiing or climbing. 1

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a harness device which nicely suspends an instrument, such as binoculars or the like, adjacent the chest of the user for ready use, but serves to hold the instrument in place against dangling movement when not in use.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the harness device applied to user for clamping a pair of binoculars when the latter are not being used,

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective of the harness device illustrating its relationship to a wearer when a pair of when the latter are not being used,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the harness device applied to a pair of binoculars and illustrating the cooperation therewith when the binoculars are in clamped relation, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a slightly modified form of the harness device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIGS. 1 through 3, it will be seen that one embodiment of the novel harness device, designated generally by the reference numeral 10, is thereshown. The harness device includes a pair of similar elongate flexible straps 11 each being formed of a suitable flexible, preferably resilient material to permit stretching thereof. Each strap 11 has a pair of clasps 12 secured thereto, each clasp being connected to one end of each strap. Each clasp 12 includes a jaw 13 pivotally connected to a jaw 14 by a pivot 15, the jaw 14 being secured to the end of the associated strap. The ends of the straps are each looped as at 16 and pass through the opening between the jaws 13 ice and 14 so that the respective eifective lengths of the straps may be readily adjusted. These clasps 12 are of conventional well-known construction.

The loops 16 at opposite ends of each strap is provided with an annular coupling ring 17 as best seen in FIG. 3. Each strap 17 has a coupling member 18 secured thereto. A coupling member 18 is of one piece construction formed of a suitable metallic material and includes an eyelet 19 at one end thereof through which one of the coupling rings 17 extends. The coupling member 18- includes a larger loop portion 20 which extends through the apertured coupling elements 21 on the binoculars B. Each coupling member 18 includes a resilient arm 22 which is normally urged against the arcuate end portion of the loop 20 of the coupling member. The resilient arm may be urged out of engaging relation with the loop of the coupling member to permit connection and disconnection thereof with respect to the coupling elements on the binoculars B.

One of the straps 11 has the small buckle 23 secured to the coupling ring 17 at one end thereof. Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the buckle 23 is bent at one end thereof to form the arcuate friction element 24 which frictionally engages the coupling ring 17 to which it is attached. The buckle 23 is also bent to form a hook 25 which releasably engages the coupling ring 17 on the other strap 11.

In use, the straps 11 of the harness device are each connected to the coupling elements 21 of the binoculars 13 by means of the coupling members 18. The binoculars B will be positioned at the chest or thoracic region of the user and each strap 11 will pass upwardly over the shoulder of a wearer to define a shoulder engaging portion 26. Each strap then passes diagonally downwardly to define a back engaging portion, and it will be noted that the backengaging portions cross each other as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each strap then extends forwardly and transversely across the thoracic area of the user to define a retaining portion 28, these portions being detachably connected together by means of the buckle 23.

When a user or wearer is not :using the binoculars, then the retaining portion 28 is positioned against the outer surface of the binoculars as best seen in FIG. 1, so that the binoculars are held against the chest of the user. Thus if a user is involved in running, skiing, horseback riding, mountain climbing or the like, the binoculars will be very comfortably and nicely held against the thoracic region of the user even though that portion of the users body is not maintained in an upright position. If the user desires to use the binoculars B, then it is merely necessary to remove the retaining portion 28 of the straps 11 from overlying relation with respect to the binoculars, and the binoculars B may then be raised to eye level for use as best seen in FIG. 2. The binoculars B may be readily replaced or returned to the retaining position by positioning the retaining portion 28 of the straps 11 over the binoculars. It will be appreciated that while the harness device 10 has been illustrated in use with binoculars, the harness device is also intended for use with other small instruments similar in size to binoculars and requiring positioning of such an instrument adjacent the eyes for use. It will be further pointed out that the harness device may be used in conjunction with binocular cases as well as being applied directly to the binoculars.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be seen that a slightly modified form of the coupling member for connection to the binoculars is thereshown, and is designated generally by the reference number 18a. The coupling member 18a includes a small flexible belt or strap having a buckle 19a secured to one end thereof and having the other end portion thereof apertured to permit the pin of the buckle to pass therethrough in a well-known manner. It will be noted that the buckle forms the strap into; a pair of loops 20a, one of which is engaged by the ring 17 and the other of which is secured toone of the coupling elements 21 of the binoculars B.

It will be noted that harness serves to position the binoculars or other instrument comfortably in a position for ready use while preventing awkward dangling of the binoculars. The arrangement of the straps of the harness do not exert a load downwardly on the shoulders of the wearer thereby permitting the binoculars or other similar instrument to be carried in complete comfort. By positioning the buckle 23 centrally of the thoracic area of a user, the user may readily remove the harness as desired.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a novel harness device for use in conjunction with binoculars and the like which is arranged and constructed to snugly hold the binoculars against the thoracic region of a user when not in use but Permitting a user to readily position the binoculars adjacent the eyes when it is desirable to use thesame. The abovementioned harness device not only may be comfortably worn by wearer but positively connected to the binoculars to preclude accidental dropping of the binoculars. Further, the present harness device permits the binoculars to be loosely suspended without engagement by the retaining position so that the binoculars may be readily raised for sighting if it is so desired.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a novel and improved harness device, which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction, but one which functions in a more efiicient manner than any heretofore known comparable device.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a pair of binoculars having a pair of apertured coupling elements thereon,

a harness device for supporting binoculars adjacent the front thoracic area of the user,

a pair of elongate resilient flexible straps, a first pair of substantially identical coupling rings each secured to one end portion of each strap, a pair of coupling elements each being secured to one of said coupling rings and each being releasably connected to said coupling elements of the binoculars,

a second pair of substantially identical coupling rings on the respective other ends of said straps, a buckle element secured to one of said rings releasably and frictionally engaging the other ring to secure said other ends of the straps together, the straps of said harness when applied to a user and attached to the coupling elements of said binoculars serving to position the binocular adjacent the frontal thoracic area of a user, said straps extending upwardly from the binocular over the shoulders of a user to define shoulder engaging portions, said straps extending diagrammatically downwardly from said shoulder engaging portions and crossing each other adjacent the rear thoracic area of a user to define back-engaging portions, said straps then extending forwardly from the back-engaging portions and transversely across the frontal thoracic area of a user to define interconnected retaining portions, said interconnected retaining portions being positioned against the outer surface of the binoculars and in opposed relation with respect to the coupling elements on the binoculars to releasably hold the same in place against the frontal thoracic area of a user.

2. The harness device as defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling members are of elongate metallic loop construction, each including a resilient arm portion and forming a part of the loop, said arm being capable of being urged out of engaging relation with the remaining portion of the associated coupling member to open the loop construction of each coupling member and allow the coupling member to be disengaged from the coupling element of the binoculars.

3. The harness device as defined in claim 1 wherein said coupling members each comprise an elongate strap, means on opposite end portions of said coupling strap releasably engaging each other to form the coupling strap into a pair of loops, one loop engaging one of said first pair of coupling rings on one of the harness straps and the other loop releasably engaging a coupling element on the binoculars.

4. The harness device as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said harness straps is provided with a clasp adjacent each end thereof, each harness strap being looped through the clasp attached thereto whereby an adjustable loop is formed at each end of each harness strap to permit the effective length thereof to be readily adjusted.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,636,766 7/ 1927 Drager 224-5 1,797,097 3/ 1931 May. 2,643,803 6/1953 Bates. 2,779,521 l/1957 Granberg. 2,967,649 1/ 1961 Mack. 3,096,010 7/ 1963 Rasmussen 224-7 3,258,182 6/1966 McDonald.

FOREIGN PATENTS 93 8,373 9/1948 France. 857,965 l/ 1961 Great Britain.

56,112 1/ 1936 Norway.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner R. J. SPAR Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 1 35072 

